Takapuna boy Lieutenant-Commander William Sanders is New Zealand's only naval recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest British award bestowed for valour. On the centenary of his death, Associate History Curator Gail Romano reflects upon the local Auckland recognition of his actions.

The music collection from Wellington based siblings Zillah and Ronald Castle was collected over 50 years from the 1930’s, with many having both local and international significance from their unusual nature. Their collection comprises of 520 instruments; cases, sheet music and musical accessories.

Who owns an idea? When does a conventional form become a unique and distinctive design? Auckland Museum recently acquired a brooch by contemporary jeweller Octavia Cook which explores these concepts, and responds to a particular situation in which she found herself in last year.

At the time of the revolution Nursing Sister Ethel M. Strachan, and her friend and colleague Sister Sybil Kelly, were among the staff of the Anglo-Russian Hospital in Petrograd (St Petersburg), Russia.

Following an enquiry from Baku in Azerbaijan, a Museum Volunteer researched the New Zealanders involved in a secret British military mission into the Caucasus Mountains and Northern Iran. Who were the soldiers and what was their mission?

By collaborating with volunteers and other members of the public, we are working to ensure that whānau are able to connect with their ancestors and discover the exact memorial where family members are publicly remembered.